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Podcasts have become more and more popular in recent years. There are podcasts in nearly every category and industry, and experts who run them. Whether you want to learn about parenting or art, there are a number of podcasts that can help you with your endeavours. A sector in which podcasts have grown extensively is that of marketing, specifically with the rise of the digital marketing podcast. There are a number of digital marketing podcasts today, the rise of these can be attributed to the added necessity of all entrepreneurs and creators to learn the world of digital marketing. Moreover, it is easier for many to learn through podcasts rather than having to complete courses or even take on business degrees, now they can simply tune in to podcasts whenever they want through their smartphones or headphones, this is also easier than being locked into the time constraints of scheduled TV or radio shows. There are so many different benefits of marketing podcasts that it's easy to see why so many people are tuning in. However, to fully understand why there has been such a high demand in these particular podcasts, it's essential to first comprehend the world of podcasting.

In recent years, listening to a podcast has become an incredibly common way to learn about things. This is not surprising given how accessible podcasts are for the general audience. Whether you want to listen while driving, working out, or doing chores around your house, there's almost always a podcast available on a topic that interests you. When combined with other forms of earning knowledge such as blogs or YouTube videos, podcasts can help people become experts on a topic in a short amount of time. This is especially good for business owners as they can learn about a variety of business topics without investing a lot of time, which they may not have, in trying to understand how to do something by testing it out multiple times. Podcasts are a great way to take in knowledge and learn from others' experience. In our busy world, having information at your fingertips is something everyone strives for, especially entrepreneurs, whose income depends entirely on how much they can sell a product/service. A podcast allows them to get the right information in terms of sales, marketing, and even finance if they don't have time to read an entire book. Moreover, it is more focused, so that they only listen to topics they really want/need information on while saving time otherwise spent reading non-relevant material.

But podcasts don't only benefit the listeners, they are equally beneficial for podcasters and b business owners in general who want to grow online. Podcasts are an effective way to connect with your audience. Not only do podcasts allow you to differentiate yourself from other sources and build relationships with your potential customers, but they also give you an opportunity to improve your communication skills. By adding podcasting as another marketing channel for your business, you can solidify your position as a trusted source while also achieving specific marketing goals. Podcast listeners tend to become podcast enthusiasts (or even fans). They come back every week or every day looking forward to new content from their favourite hosts/podcasts. This means that they have already bought into what you do! When done right, podcasts also drive traffic back to your website or social media pages (and those links bring value back to whatever it is you sell). All told, podcasting gives entrepreneurs an incredible opportunity whereby they can build a direct relationship with our audience by getting them excited about our topics.

Despite their rise in popularity, podcasts often don't get enough attention from businesses-and that means it's easy for you to stand out. This is specifically the reason why so many marketers have started digital marketing podcasts, because there is a low barrier to entry and they can garner a larger audience because of the niche than on other platforms. As such, the number of podcasts focused on digital marketing continues to grow and whether you're a beginner or expert in digital marketing, these podcasts offer an interesting look at where digital marketing is headed. There are a few podcasts that have become more widely known than others which many recommend all entrepreneurs should listen to. For example, Masters of Scale (Growth) by Reid Hoffman, this podcast is led by the co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman who has created many multi-billion dollar companies and his podcast provides insights into how he did it, it is no wonder so many people are tuning into it. Another great podcast is, This Week in Startups (Startup Culture) by Jason Calacanis, this podcast discusses trends and issues facing startups today, often through interviews with successful founders who share their stories from idea to execution. Moreover, if you already have experts you like watching on YouTube or are following on Instragram, chances are they have a podcast, and you can find deeper insights to their points on their podcast. 

Another aspect of podcasting which makes it so interesting to the creators is the manner in which it can be monetised. There are a number of ways you can monetise podcasts. The two most common methods for monetizing podcasts are advertising and affiliate links. If you're serious about starting a podcast, you should probably consider using both in order to be able to stay afloat. Some podcasters stick with one method or another; others use both. Another good way to monetize podcasts is to create your own product. Say you create a podcast that interviews various entrepreneurs and business owners in your industry. You can then take what you learn from those interviews and compile them into an ebook or online course. Selling products is easier than selling ads, so by creating your own product, you'll have a better chance at success. Monetizing podcasts can also be done by taking donations or charging for tickets to live events related to your podcast. Of course, it's important that you establish yourself as an expert before asking people for money and/or goods, but if you succeed in doing so, these options are legitimate ways to make money from podcasts.

Either way, whether you are the listener or the creator, podcasts can benefit you and provide countless opportunities in ways you may not have previously expected. The best part is that podcasts are still in their early stages, and most people are slowly getting more and more involved. Yet, over time, it can be expected that podcasts will become as popular as radio, whether it be one on something as niche as English Literature in the 15th century or as broad as digital marketing.